Love your neighbor as yourself.

As I entered the house one afternoon with my nine-year-old daughter, I could tell that something was on her mind. When I asked, with her head down she spoke softly saying “I’m sad because Ava is getting kicked out, and she doesn’t know where she is going.”

Ava is one of my daughters’ close friends and a neighbor for several years. They’ve had countless play dates together one-on-one and with a group of their friends. And as friends of all ages do, Ava has been sharing with her close friends the fact she is being forced out of her apartment, and she doesn’t know where. Sensing her time is limited with her friends they were planning on how they can get more play dates and maybe even one sleepover before the dreaded move-out date.

I know her mother, and I’ve had brief conversations with her and contemplated asking if we could be of assistance. Perhaps connect her to some people that I know and see if there were some resources that were available. I stopped short of asking for fear of not crossing my bounds and perhaps it’s not my place and I left it at that, however the girls did not. Every opportunity they had to connect after school, the topic was front and center.

Finally, putting the fear of overstepping behind me, I reached out to Ava’s mother. Tami, who is a single mother of three broke down and expressed she is running out of options and time, and she is more than happy to accept any help she can get. She shared her struggles and the fact of a recent promotion will help stabilize her situation in the very near future, however, right now she is facing eviction with very limited resources.

I am fortunate to have been surrounded by neighbors who often come together to help those in need at times of crisis. I’ve seen firsthand the power of compounded small acts of kindness when people come together. It is with this spirit I am appealing to you as a mother to all my friends, neighbors, and strangers alike. If you could find it in your heart to give to this fundraising effort and help uplift a family, a mother, a child in their time of need. Any small amount of donation you are able to contribute will go a long way. Sharing this effort will go a long way. I thank you for your time in reading this.

With gratitude,

Tigist